(うんてんめんきょ)

driver's license

(かえす)

to return (something); to give back

(こうれいしゃ)

elderly person

(ふえる)

to increase; to grow

(にほん)

Japan

(くるま)

car

(うんてん)

operation, driving

(やめる)

to stop; to quit

(としをとる)

to grow old; to age

(とる)

to take

(め)

eye

(みみ)

ear

(ちから)

strength; power

(よわい)

Weak

(じこ)

accident; incident

(しんぱい)

worry / concern

(じぶん)

oneself

(めんきょ)

license

(ひと)

person / people

(おおい)

many

(けいさつ)

police

(きょねん)

last year

(ぜんこく)

nationwide; the whole country

(よんじゅうまんにん)

400,000 people

(こえる)

to exceed

(ばす)

bus

(たくしー)

taxi

(わりびきけん)

discount ticket; coupon

(あげる)

to lift, to raise

(し)

city

(かいもの)

shopping

(いく)

to go

(ようい)

preparation; readiness

(まち)

town

(せいかつ)

daily life; livelihood

(しかし)

however, but

(でんしゃ)

electric train

(すくない)

few, scarce

(ちほう)

region; area

(ふべん)

inconvenient

(ある)

a certain (some)

(たんとうしゃ)

person in charge

(あんぜん)

safety

(りょうほう)

both

(まもる)

to protect

(ほうほう)

method; way

(かんがえる)

to think; to consider

(はなす)

to speak, talk

is doing, has been doing (ongoing state/action)

Expresses a continuing action or resulting state. Formed with て-form + いる/います. Can describe an action in progress or a state that continues from a past change.

if / when (natural consequence)

Conditional と indicating a natural or expected result. 一緒に捨てると…火が出て means 'if you throw them away together, fire starts.'

there are times when ~

Describes occasional occurrences or possibilities. Used to say large rocks can sometimes fly out during eruptions.

~ and so / because of ~ing

感じて感動しました uses the て-form to link cause: feeling the power of life and being moved by it.

to become (い-adjective)

Expresses a change of state for い-adjectives. Drop the final い and add くなる. Indicates something has changed or will change to a new state.

according to ...

Cites a source of information. The noun before によると is the source. Often followed by a reported statement.

past modifier

梅を使ったお酒 and 取ったばかりの modify nouns with past-tense verbs.

did ... (polite past)

Polite past tense of verbs. Formed with verb stem + ました. Used in formal or polite speech to describe completed actions.

there is / have (an event)

Used to state the existence of events or inanimate things. In the article, it describes the existence of a deciding match and the closing ceremony.

in order to, for the purpose of

Expresses purpose. Formed with verb dictionary form + ための + noun, or noun + のための + noun. Modifies the following noun to indicate its purpose.

there are as many as ~

Emphasizes a large quantity. 'There are as many as 140 kinds'.

even without ~ / even if not ~

Negative te-form with も meaning even if not. Here 予約をしなくても (even without making a reservation).

to make sure that, to ensure that

Expresses the goal of bringing about a certain state or preventing something. Formed with verb plain form + ようにする. Often used to describe efforts to ensure or prevent something.

if ~ not / must ~

Negative conditional implying necessity or negative outcome.

want to ~

Verb stem + たい to express desire.

運転免許を返す高齢者が増える

More elderly people are handing back their driver's licences

日本では、車の運転をやめる高齢者が増えています。

In Japan, the number of elderly people who give up driving is increasing.

年を取ると、目や耳の力が弱くなることがあります。

As people grow older, their eyesight and hearing can become weaker.

事故を心配して、自分から免許を返す人が多くなりました。

Worried about accidents, more and more people are handing back their licences of their own accord.

警察によると、去年、免許を返した人は全国で四十万人を超えました。

According to the police, the number of people who returned their licences last year exceeded 400,000 nationwide.

免許を返した人に、バスやタクシーの割引券をあげる市があります。

There are cities that give discount tickets for buses and taxis to people who have returned their licences.

買い物に行くための車を用意する町もあります。

There are also towns that provide a vehicle for going shopping.

車がなくても生活できるようにするためです。

This is to make it possible for people to live their daily lives even without a car.

しかし、電車やバスが少ない地方では、車がないと不便です。

However, in rural areas with few trains and buses, life is inconvenient without a car.

ある市の担当者は「安全と生活の両方を守る方法を考えたい」と話しています。

An official in one city says, "We want to find a way to protect both safety and daily life."